"The Otherwhere Post" by Emily J. Taylor

The Otherwhere Post (Feb. 25, 2025) by Emily J. Taylor.

<This is a standalone novel.>

It’s been seven years since Inverly was lost and the Written Doors were destroyed. Maeve Abenthy became an orphan and was sent to the Sacrifict Orphanage, where she took a different name to avoid being associated as the daughter of a murderer, the “world killer.” Now 18 years old, Maeve has received a letter that’s seven years old. She has no idea who’s sent it, but it declares that, “Your father was innocent.” To uncover the truth, she dupes her way into Leyland’s College of Scriptomantic Arts, which houses the Otherwhere Post’s headquarters in Leyland, and becomes a courier apprentice to an infuriating mentor who’s handsome under his ink-splattered wardrobe. Tristan Byrne has secrets of his own. But it’s here that Maeve – attending as Eilidh Hill – will learn scriptomancy, “the art of enchanting any piece of existing handwriting, from a penned novel to a scribbled grocery list.” Couriers are able to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. Finding the sender of the anonymous letter will prove tricky and not least because she’s not yet a scriptomancer. Someone is threatening her, and although arcane magic isn’t infinite, it still has the power to do irreparable harm or even kill. She’s spent these seven years moving around and never letting anyone close to her. Her roommate at the Post, Nan Ferro, is determined that they will be friends and has the outgoing nature to persevere. Nan’s mentor, Shea Widden (she hails from a rich family which owns buildings across Leyland and Barrow, another of the known worlds), also has no problem counting Maeve as a friend. Tristan could be a friend, too ... or more, but Maeve doesn’t need friends. Because then their lives will be in danger, and she’ll have to share her biggest secret.

            Having loved the author’s previous YA novel, I expected to be enthralled by this YA dark fantasy that steps into a world of dark academia and does contain a multiverse. And enthralled I am by the ingenuity of a story that’s part mystery and a little bit romance. Taylor is a builder of worlds that I feel like I could easily live in. My only needle with the story is in Maeve’s underhandedness in landing an apprenticeship. I get that her character is desperate for answers, but that doesn’t make her deceit copacetic. Fortunately, the story, much like I’d expect scribing to be, is complex in its plotting and its characters. The mystery is high-stakes with the adventure rush-hour and perilous. The magical fantasy tale dazzles, the banter delights, and Taylor’s world-building is detailed without being convoluted. It was hard to put down. I loved it.

            Also from the author: Hotel Magnifique